C17 Red Eye Disease(17)

I'm Suzukaze Aoba, 18 years old, a new member of a gaming company.

Two days ago, I picked up a purple phone on my way to work. I wanted to look for the owner, but my phone received a text message with the name of the person who called me. The message was -

"Congratulations, Ms. Suzukaze Aoba. You have been selected to enter the list for this Squid Game episode. There are fourteen minutes left until the script opens. Please prepare."

Now that I think about it, I really shouldn't have picked it up. I should have ignored it; but if I didn't pick it up, someone else would have picked it up for me too. Then I would definitely be dragged into this disaster. It felt like someone was taking the disaster for me, and it didn't feel good.

Fourteen minutes later, I am dragged into the Another World, which is very similar to the world I live in.

Just as I was hesitating, the purple mobile phone suddenly vibrated. It was a call from someone called Ning Hai.

He might be the Black Hand - he originally thought that way, but the result wasn't.

Ning Hai was the same as me, he was also a victim of this disaster.

At that time, I proposed a hypothesis to him: our encounter might be a game, so we can use the game's logic to assess our current situation. I can't remember exactly what I said at that time, but that's generally what I meant. After saying those words, I immediately regretted it. I reflected on my own heart, perhaps because I usually came into contact with the design of the game's characters. That's why I think of the game so often. From the perspective of Ning Hai, who heard this kind of speech, he might also think that I'm a strange girl who isn't reliable. Although he immediately affirmed my words, I still feel that the way he looked at me after that is very strange. I don't know if it was an illusion or not.

After that... After that, we followed the message from the Black Hand and headed towards the Beaver High School.

Even in the Another World, there was a person called Suzukaze Aoba. And this is also my current identity. In this world, Aoba made a friend called Miwa Yukio. It was a beautiful and handsome girl. Although it was inappropriate for an elder like me to say this, I actually quite look forward to Yukio. Perhaps, Aoba in this world also has the same thoughts. That is why I became friends with Yukio.

Under Yukio's guidance, I found my class and seat, and also Ning Hai's seat. After that, Ning Hai came to the school and we went to class together.

The peaceful time did not last for long. The Red Eye swept across Beaver City, turning the city into a living hell.

With Ning Hai's help, I successfully escaped the school building and met up with Yukio and Mr Miwa. The four of us left the school together.

After arriving at Yukio's villa, Mr Miwa quickly became a patient and attacked us.

The Red Eye will turn the infected people into crazy people who only know how to kill them. The method of infection is also unclear. We also don't know why Mr Miwa turned into a patient. He was clearly a very normal person before. We don't know why ___ turned into a patient either. He was clearly a very normal person before, but now he suddenly became so distant from his family.

Ning Hai immediately stopped Mr Miwa.

Unlike the weak me, Ning Hai is a powerful Superpowered. Therefore, no matter whether it is Mr Miwa who is holding a spear or the multiple patients who are attacking him together, he can easily deal with them.

Mr Miwa is locked up by us.

The next day, we went to the research institute set up by the city government and tried to find a special medicine to treat Mr Miwa.

However... we failed.

The special medicine doesn't exist at all.

Not only that, even the plan to escape the city was rejected by reality.

The person who suggested to Yukio that as long as he left Beaver City, Mr Miwa would be able to return to his original state was me. Thus, the despair after Yukio. I think I should take responsibility for it... Even though Ning Hai said that it doesn't matter, I still can't stop the torment in my heart.

Late at night, even Yukio became a patient and was locked up by us.

Sooner or later, Ning Hai and I will also become patients... However, as people who don't belong to this world, We may be an exception, but until now, no illness has been found. Of course, This is just a fluke, or maybe we're just lucky. So the illness happened later.

In order to break the hopeless situation, Ning Hai started to go out, execute the message orders from the Black Hand, and destroy the stronghold on the map.

Until the morning of the third day, the orders given by the Black Hand were completed by Ning Hai. I thought that it would take a long time, but Ning Hai is indeed very powerful.

The Black Hand sent us a new order. The content is to destroy the core of the ceremony. According to the information that Ning Hai shared with me, I only need to destroy the core of the ceremony. The ritual will be destroyed, and as long as the ritual is destroyed, Beaver City will be saved. It is said that the Red Eye is also the product of this ceremony. Does that mean... Yukio and Mr Miwa would recover after the ritual was over?

I have a feeling that this might be the last command of the Black Hand. As long as we complete this command, we will be able to "clear" the level. The word 'clear the level' appearing here is very strange, right? But... if our experience is really as I had imagined, it would be a game... Then the Beaver City would be the stage of the game, and the Red Eye would be the core setting. Heretic is the villain, and the message command of the Black Hand is the main mission. Destroying the core of the ceremony meant saving the Beaver City, and it could also be regarded as the end of the nightmare. The completion of the main mission and the completion of the game. If he explained it this way, it would make sense, right?

I also know that this is probably just my own wishful thinking. To describe reality as a game is really too careless.

Now, Ning Hai has already begun heading to the core of the ceremony.

The weak me can only sit at home and wait for Ning Hai's news.

Sometimes, I would also envy Ning Hai and his Superpower. As long as I have the Superpower, can I also fight bravely like Ning Hai? I have seriously considered this question before, and the conclusion is that I can't.

Yukio also doesn't have the Superpower, but she dares to close the distance between her and the patient. And I already have the pistol that Ning Hai gave me. But I still could not muster up the courage to face the patient. Although Ning Hai once told me that he is a mediocre person who has nothing but the Superpower, But in my opinion, even without the Superpower, doesn't Ning Hai still have a lot of courage? To be able to bravely face such a terrifying thing, this is also a kind of strength worthy of admiration.

From the beginning until now, Ning Hai has always been so calm and composed. It was as if he never knew fear and would never be defeated by difficulties. On the other hand, I... If I didn't rely on Ning Hai, I'm afraid I would have been torn apart by the crazy patients.

I asked Ning Hai about his age. At that time, he didn't have time to reply and was interrupted by the sudden change. Although I didn't get the answer, I feel that Ning Hai should be younger than me.

Being protected by a boy younger than me, every time I think of this fact, my face will burn and I will hate my own cowardice.

...

Knock knock.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

Was it Ning Hai? But wasn't he heading to the core of the ritual? He should have just arrived at that place by now, right?

I sat up in the living room on the first floor and was just about to open the door.

Then, I realized...

That's not right.

Ning Hai had promised me a secret signal. When he knocked on the door, he would definitely use this secret signal to knock on the door. However, the person who knocked on the door did not follow this secret signal. It was just an ordinary knock on the door.

I quietly walked to the entrance and tried my best not to make a sound.

Who was it? Who would pay a visit to this villa at such a time?

Ning Hai told me that when he went to the supermarket to collect food, He met a group of survivors who tried to rob him. From this, it can be seen that although everyone is survivors, they are not trustworthy. The people who were knocking on the door were most likely survivors; the ones in the villa were also survivors. There are only me and two patients in the villa. It would be great if Ning Hai was here, even if the person who knocked on the door had bad intentions. He could easily get rid of them.

The person outside knocked on the door again.

What should he do...

Could it really be Ning Hai who knocked on the door? Did he forget to use a secret signal?

It would be fine to ask at this time, but if it was a survivor with bad intentions... He might as well not make a sound.

Oh right, there's a way.

I took out my purple phone and called Ning Hai.

The call went through very quickly.

"Aoba? What's wrong?" Ning Hai asked.

I listened for a while, but no one outside the door spoke.

As expected, that wasn't Ning Hai!

"No, it's fine..." I whispered.

Then, I hung up.

Distant water can't save a nearby fire. Furthermore, Ning Hai is busy right now. I should try to solve the problem myself.

I can't always rely on Ning Hai.

But, what should I do...

The person outside knocked on the door for the third time. The sound was louder than the previous two times, and it revealed impatience.

I walked to the door and tiptoed to look outside through the peephole.

Standing outside the door was a tall and sturdy giant wearing a black robe with red totem patterns drawn on it.

Not good! It was Heretic!

And he's one of the high ranking members of Heretic. Ning Hai told me that Heretic, who wears a black robe with totem patterns, is very likely to be someone who knows how to cast spells!

Suddenly, the huge man outside the door met my eyes.

He knows that I am looking at him!

He must have noticed it through the changes in the brightness of the cat's eyes.

He suddenly threw a punch at the door. His thick forearm punched through the hard wooden door and brushed past my body.

I was almost hit!

I was shocked and quickly turned around to run.

Why would Heretic appear here?

What should I do? Where should he run to?

Escape from the villa? But the outside of the villa was full of patients. If he ran outside, he was afraid that he would immediately be killed by the patients.

Wait, wait. Escape outside... this method...

It was feasible!

I have the mask that Ning Hai gave me! As long as I wear that mask, I won't be attacked by the patients!

I ran to the living room, picked up the mask on the coffee table, and put it on my face. Then, I picked up the pistol that Yukio once held, turned around, and ran to the window.

At that moment, the door was completely destroyed by the giant man. He ran to the living room and looked at me by the window.

He rushed towards me with his legs wide open.

I quickly jumped out of the window.

In the face of a life and death crisis, even though I was physically weak, I still managed to run at a very fast speed - at least for me, it was very fast; however, this level of speed couldn't compare to the giant man behind me.

The moment I ran out of the villa and arrived on the road, the giant behind me was about to catch up to me.

At most 20 meters... No, ten meters, I was about to be caught by him!

At this moment, the patients who were wandering around noticed the giant chasing after me. They rushed towards the giant.

Unlike me, the giant didn't wear a mask that could make the patients ignore me. The attack of the patients delayed the giant's footsteps, allowing me to pull a distance with great difficulty.

I looked back.

The giant man shouted loudly and threw away the patients who were holding him back like he was throwing garbage bags. Then, he continued to charge at me.

I immediately felt a chill in my heart. I turned around and kept charging forward.

After running for a short while, I felt my stamina rapidly decrease. I couldn't help but gasp for breath.

All the patients on the way turned a blind eye to me. Instead, they tried to stop the giant that was chasing me. If it wasn't for their help, I would have been caught a long time ago. But... If I stopped because I was tired, even with their help... I will definitely be caught by that giant.

Is there any other way?

I thought of my own gun. I even conveniently took it with me when I left the villa.

Should I use it to shoot at the giant?

Although the opponent was a living person, that was also the murderer who turned the Beaver City into such a miserable state. It was reasonable and reasonable... However, I am still afraid of shooting people. If it was Ning Hai, what would he do? He would definitely shoot at his opponent without hesitation. If it was Yukio, she would definitely make the same choice.

I ran to a street, and my speed of escape has decreased quite a bit.

The giant chased closely.

Finally, after a period of hesitation, I pulled out my gun and pulled the trigger at the giant man.

The giant man is about ten meters away from me. At this distance... For someone like me who has never fired a gun before, it is still too difficult. Fortunately, the giant is huge, and my luck seems to be pretty good. My first shot successfully hit the opponent.

The bullet hit the giant's body, and with a bang, it bounced off.

The giant man didn't stop and continued to run.

It didn't work at all!

If it wasn't for the giant man's black robe being punctured, I would have thought I missed!

Is this the power of magic? Is the spell that this giant possesses the type that can increase my defensive power?

I don't dare to turn back and run with all my might.

...

After an unknown period of time, I ran to the main entrance of an office building in the central district.

My stamina is almost at its limit.

Every step I took was like trying to squeeze water out of a dry towel; every breath was like stimulating a non-existent wound in my chest; every time I escaped death, I seemed to have overdrawn my future luck.

Thanks to the patient's entanglement, I was not caught.

But... this is the limit.

To be honest, to be able to reach this place is already a miracle. Miracles would not happen one after another. This was common sense.

I strenuously dragged my incomparably sore legs into the office building.

The giant man chased after me as if he would never be tired.

As I slowly ran, I observed my surroundings and my heart suddenly felt cold.

Not good, there are no patients here...

If there are no patients, I can't slow down the giant man's speed.

We shouldn't have entered this office building.

I had to find a place to hide so that the giant man wouldn't be able to find it no matter how hard I tried.